Objectives - Sound and Music

The Minds On Physics program consists of 15 modules. Each module covers a different topic and consists of a varying number of assignments. Every assignment addresses one or two objectives. The objectives for the Sound and Music module are listed below.

Assignment 1:

The student should be able to describe several fundamental
concepts concerning the nature of a sound wave.

Assignment 2:

The student should be able to identify and describe the
characteristics of amplitude, wavelength and frequency for a
sound wave.

The student should be able to identify factors effecting
(and not effecting) the speed of a sound wave.

Assignment 3:

The student should be able to recognize the role of the
deciBel system and understand its logarithmic nature.

The student should be able to compare sounds in terms of
their intensity and deciBel level.

Assignment 4:

The student should be able to describe the Doppler effect
and its underlying causes.

Assignment 5:

The student should be able to identify the cause and result
of resonance and the basic vocabulary associated with
resonance.

The student should be able to associate standing wave
patterns with harmonic numbers and identify the frequency
relationships for the various harmonics of a vibrating
object.

Assignment 6:

The student should be able to identify the standing wave
patterns for stringed instruments and use them to state the
length-wavelength relationships.

The student should be able to recognize the relationship
between the frequencies of the various harmonics for stringed
instruments.

Assignment 7:

The student should be able to determine the wavelength and
frequency of a standing wave in a guitar string if given the
speed, harmonic number and length of the string.

The student should be able to determine the wavelength and
the length of a guitar string if given the frequency of a
harmonic, the wave pattern and the speed of waves in the
string.

Assignment 8:

The student should be able to identify the standing wave
patterns for open-end air columns and use them to state the
length-wavelength relationships.

The student should be able to recognize the relationship
between the frequencies of the various harmonics for open-end
air columns.

Assignment 9:

The student should be able to determine the wavelength and
frequency of a standing wave in a open-end air column if given
the speed, harmonic number and length of the air column.

The student should be able to determine the wavelength and
the length of an open-end air column if given the frequency of
a harmonic, the wave pattern and the speed of waves in the
air.

Assignment 10:

The student should be able to identify the standing wave
patterns for closed-end air columns and use them to state the
length-wavelength relationships.

The student should be able to recognize the relationship
between the frequencies of the various harmonics for closed-end
air columns.

Assignment 11:

The student should be able to determine the wavelength and
frequency of a standing wave in a closed-end air column if
given the speed, harmonic number and length of the air
column.

The student should be able to determine the wavelength and
the length of an closed-end air column if given the frequency
of a harmonic, the wave pattern and the speed of waves in the
air.